Improvement in mowing-machines



UNiTnn STATES` PATTLNT Tirreni.

IMPROVEMENT IN NIOWlNG-MACHI-NES.

Specification forming part of IzcttersvPa-ktent No. 344,763, dated March 25, 1862.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. MANNY, of

Rockford, in the county of Vinnebago andthis specification, and in whichn Figure l represents a plan or top view of a mowing machine embracing my improvements, the drivers seat being shown in red lines. Fig.. 2 represents a view in elevation of the outer or grain side of the same, the iinger-beam being shown as resting upon the ground. Fig. 3 represents a similar view from the divider side of the same with the iingerbeam raised from the ground. rlhe red lines in this figure show a device for locking the spring-detent in o rder to holdA it out of contact with the rake. Fig. 4 represents a view in elevation of an improved divider and a portion of the reel-post; and Fig. 5 represents a plan or top view of the same, together with a portion of the cutting apparatus.

It is the object of the invention claimed under this patent to produce a cheap, simple, and eflicient mowing-machine; and to this end my improvements consist, first, in extending one of the hounds of the hinged tongue backward over the the finger-beam and mounting the apparatus which controls the vertical movements of the iinger-beam upon it; secondly, in inclosing the driving-wheel in a gearingira-me, tothe rear end of which the nger-beam is secured, in combination with a tongue, the hounds of which are hinged near the axle of the driving-wheel, and upon which hounds a drivers seat is mounted, as hereinafter more fully set forth. I

Theaccompanying drawings represent a convenient arrangement of parts for carrying out the objects of my invention.

In this instance the driving-wheel is shown as inclosed by two stout beams, b b, the outer one, b, of which is made stouter than the other, in order that the gearing may be mounted upon it. The inner edge of this beam b also lies parallel to the plane ofthe driving-wheel, while its outer edge gradually tapers toward the drivin g-wheel from a point in front of its axis. The inner beam, b3, gradually converges toward the otherfrom rear to front, leaving barely space enough for the revolution of the drivingwheel, and the two are connected in front by the cross-bar b', the three forming the gearingframe B.

The linger-beam D is firmly fastened to the under sides of the rear ends of the `beams b b3. The heel of the beam, or that portion d of 4it between the two beams, is bent upward at a slight angle in order to pass over obstructions with greater ease.

A pair of hounds are rigidly secured to the tongue O, and pivoted to the gearing-frame near the axle of the driving-wheel by the hinges or joints c. A seat, K, for the driver is mounted upon these hounds very close to their point of attachment to the gearing-frame. As the hounds always remain at very nearly the same level, it .follows that the seat will be muc-h less liable to tilt backward and forward than if mounted upon the gearing-frame itself.

A strong beam, J, is firmly secured to one ofthe hounds c, so as to form, as it were, an extension thereof. It is horizontal and parallel to the plane of the driving-wheel and extends backward nearly to the linger-beam, but above it. A curved rack, Q, is secured upon this beam or frame. A bent lever, N, is also pivoted upon this beam, its handle n extending forward near the drivers seat, so as to be within easy reach of his hand. I), extends from the rear end ofthe outer beam, b, ofthe gearing-frame to the bent lever n near its 'middle A cord or chain, a', extendsfrom the rear end of the bent lever down to a pulley on the end of the finger-beam, thence along the beam'to the hinged arm f, which supports the caster-wheel F. By this 'means kboth ends of the beam may be raised or lowered simultaneously, while atthe same time the/cutting apparatus is kept horizontal and its fingers'prevented fromdigging into the ground.

Upon the inner side of the lever-handle n is secured a bolt-ease, o. The spring detent or bolt o', which engages the teeth of the curved rack Q, slides longitudinally within this case, and its lower end is held in contact with the rack by means of a coiled or spiral spring inside the case. the end of this bolt up to a small bent lever, o3, pivoted upon the'upperend of the lever-handle fn. By reference to the drawings it will be seen that the arrangement of the mechanism is such that when the bolt engages the teeth of the rack A rod, l

A cord or wire, 02, leads from a rigid connection is formed between the horizontal frame J and the finger-beam, and that consequently the cutting apparatus will be held at an unvarying height fromthe ground. By pressing on the small bent lever o3 with his hand the driver can release the bolt from the rack and adjust the finger-beam to any elevation desired by pushing the lever-handle a backward or forward. As soon as he releases his grasp upon the handle, the spring throws the bolt o into contact with the teeth of the rack and holds the beam rmly, as before. This method of maintaining the iinger-beam at a uniform elevation is of great utilitywhen moving from place to place, or cutting stubble of a given length; but when mowing over rough ground it is essential that the finger'- beam should be allowed to play freely up and down,rin order to conform to the undulations of its surface. In order to give this flexibility to the finger-beam, I make a transverse slot or hole in thebolt o in such position that when the bolt is withdrawn from the rack the slot will be above the top of the case, and by inserting a pin, of, into this slot the `bolt will be held out of contact with the rack, thus permitting the finger-beam to play freely up and down. The details of this arrangement are clearly shown in Fig. 3, in which the locking-'pin o4 is shown in red lines.

In Figs. l, 2, and 3 the divider end of the finger-beam is represented as supported upon a caster-wheel, F, the yoke of which is pivoted to an arm or radiusbar, j', hinged near the point of the divider and capable of playing Vfreely up and down, the pivot .or hinge f,

which connects this hinged arm and the caster-yoke, is so arranged that `when the finger- Abeam rests upon the ground the axis of the pivot is inclined slightly forward from the perpendicular, the effect of whichA arrangement is that when the machine is turned (which is always done by backing the divider end of the beam, while the driving-wheel forms the pivot upon which the turn is made) the caster-wheel swings round and raises the ngerbeam from the ground while turning. As soon as the forward movement of the machine recommences, the caster-wheel resumes its original position, and the iinger-beam is again lowered upon the ground.

Figs. 4 and 5 represent views on an enlarged scale, showing my improvements in the divider and the mode of attaching both it and the guard-fingers to the finger-beam, but as I propose to make these devices the subject of a separate application for Letters Patent hereafter, a further description of them is deemed unnecessary here.

The operation ofthe machine is such that.

when the 'horses are harnessed to the machine the beam J and the tongue are horizontal, or very nearly so, and always remain at the same elevation above the ground. Owing to this fact, the drivers seat K, which is mounted upon the hounds, remains comparatively undisturbed by the movements of the machine; whereas, were it mounted upon the frame B, it would be constantly rocking backward and forward during the oscillation of the frame. The arrangement of the finger-beam, gearingframe, and hinged tongue is such that the `beam is free to play up and d own without varying the weight upon the necks of thc horses, while at the same time the pull of the team has no tendency to lift the ngenbeam from the ground, which is of .great importance 1n mowing.

It is obvious that attaching the tongue rigthe various parts of the mechanism, which are common to nearly all mowing-machines of recent date, and well known to all skillful constructers of such machines. Moreover, such parts as are of my own invention are fully described in three several applications for Letters Patent of the United States for improvements in harvesters, respectively marked A, B,77 and (l, and filed February 25, 1862. j

What I claim under this patent as my invention is l. Mounting the apparatus which regulates the height of the finger-beam on an extension of one of the hounds of the tongue, as and for the purpose described.

2. 'Ihe combination, in a mowing-machine, of a finger-beam, gearing-frame,hin ged tongue, and drivers seat, when the whole is arranged and operated substantially as herein described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOHN I. MANNY. 

